Automated football game

ABSTRACT

A FULLY AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME IS DISCLOSED IN WHICH ON OFFENSIVE PLAYER IS MOVED IN ANY DIRECTION ALONG A SIMULATED FOOTBALL FIELD AND WHEREIN DEFENSIVE PLAYERS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE FOOTBALL FIELD TO STOP THE PROGRESS OF THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER. THE MOVEMENT OF THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER IS CONTROLLED BY PLAYING CARDS WHICH HAVE PERFORATIONS CODED THEREON WHICH CORRESPOND TO DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED OFFENSIVE PLAYS. A PLAY MARKET IS PROVIDED FOR SENSING THE PERFORATIONS IN THE PLAYING CARDS AND FOR CONTROLLING A PAIR OF MOTORS WHICH MOVE THE OFFENSIVE PLAYER ALONG THE FOOTBALL FIELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAY CODED ON THE CARD BEING SENSED. THE PLAY MAKER   COMPRISES A HOUSING WITH A PLAY CARD INSERTION OPENING. MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING ARE A PLURALITY OF LEVERS WHICH ARE BIASED AGAINST THE CARD AND THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS AS THE CARD MOVES PAST THE LEVERS. A SPRING MOTOR-ROLLER IS ENGAGED BY A CARD AND WOUND TAP AS A CARD IS INSERTED, AND UPON RELEASE OF THE SPRING MOTOR THE ROLLER DRIVES THE CARD PAST LEVERS AND OUTWARDLY OF THE HOUSING.

1972 K. M. WALDROP AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1970 1972 K. M. WALDROP 3,72,19

AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 16, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NVEN TOR. li /way /7.' ldqweop Nov. 7, 1972 K. M. WALDROP AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 16, 1970 firm/KEYS 1972 K. M. WALDROP 3,7,19

AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME Filed Feb. 16, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Office 3,702,190 Patented Nov. 7, 1972 3,702,190 AUTOMATED FOOTBALL GAME Kenneth M. Waldrop, 1545 N. 43rd St., Lawton, Okla. 73501 Filed Feb. 16, 1970, Ser. No. 11,595 Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 US. Cl. 273-94 R 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fully automated football game is disclosed in which an offensive player is moved in any direction along a simulated football field and wherein defensive players are located along the football field to stop the progress of the offensive player. The movement of the offensive player is controlled by playing cards which have perforations coded thereon which correspond to different predetermined offensive plays. A play maker is provided for sensing the perforations in the playing cards and for controlling a pair of motors which move the offensive player along the football field in accordance with the play coded on the card being sensed. The play maker comprises a housing with a play card insertion opening. Mounted in the housing are a plurality of levers which are biased against the card and through the perforations as the card moves past the levers. A spring motor-roller is engaged by a card and wound up as a card is inserted, and upon release of the spring motor the roller drives the card past the levers and outwardly of the housing.

This invention relates to a football game and more specifically to an automated football game in which the offensive plays and defensive formations can be preselected by the participants.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS The present invention is directed to the same field of technology as is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,961,238 entitled Football Game, the issue date of this patent being Nov. 22, 1960.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been known in the past to provide games for simulating actual football contests wherein the participants of the game could select the offensive plays and defensive formations that were utilized during the playing of the game. An example of this is found in the game described in the above-identified patent.

In the game described in the above-identified patent an offensive player was moved along a preselected path on a simulated football field and defensive players were located in positions to block the anticipated movement of the offensive player. When contact was made between the offensive player and one of the defensive players the play was terminated with the new scrimmage line being determined by the point of contact between the offensive player and the defensive players.

Mechanical levers were provided for moving the offensive players along the playing field with the mechanical levers following lines on a playing card which corresponded to a preselected play in order that the movement of offensive player would be that of the preselected play.

The present invention is an improvement on the invention described in the above-identified patent by providing automatic means for moving an offensive football player in all directions along a football field in accordance with a preselected offensive football play that is coded on a playing card. The apparatus of the present invention which accomplishes this is simple to use and reliable in operation and provides a game that can be enjoyed by participants of all ages.

As such, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved game in which participants can simulate the playing of an actual football contest.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automated game in which the participants can simulate the playing of a football contest with a minimum of physical effort and where the offensive plays and defensive formations can be preselected in accordance with the strategy of the participants.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved football game capable of achieving each of the foregoing objects wherein the game is simple to construct, reliable in operation and economical to produce.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are accomplished by a football game in which an offensive player is adapted to be moved in any direction along a simulated football field and wherein defensive players are positioned along the football field to stop the progress of the offensive player. The movement of the offensive player is controlled by playing cards each of which have perforations thereon that correspond to different preselected football plays. A play maker is utilized which includes a playing card receiving slot to receive a playing card and sensing elements are located within the play maker to sense the perforations in the playing card. The sensing elements sense the perforations in the playing card and energize certain circuits that control motors for moving the offensive player along selected paths on the football field, the movement of the offensive player continuing until it abuts one of the defensive players at which time its motion is stopped and the offensive play is over.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a playing card and play maker of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the play maker of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an opened end view of the play maker of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an opened side view of the play maker of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the structure for moving the offensive player along a simulated football field; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the offensive player and its attachment to the means for moving it along the simulated football field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, wherein the football game of the present invention is seen to include a football game member 10 and a play maker 11 with wiring 12 connecting game member and play maker '11. It is to be noted that while the play maker and game member are shown as separate parts of the present invention this is only a preferred embodiment and these parts could be constructed integral with each other. Located on a top surface 13 of game member 10 is a simulated football field having the yard strips 14 and goal posts 15 and 16. An offensive player piece 17 is located on surface 13 and movable along the surface as will hereinafter be explained. Defensive player pieces I18 may be aligned in any desired defensive formation along the football playing field and cooperate with offensive player 17 in the playing of the game as will soon be apparent.

Play maker 11 is seen to include an actuator toggle switch 19 movable between a stop and action position as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also located on the play maker 11 is an on-olf light switch 20 which when depressed to the on-position may be utilized to energize a light that can be located beneath offensive football player 17. A huddle-like switch 2 1 is located on play maker 11 and allows the offensive football plays to be run in conjunction with knob 22 as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Located on an end of play maker 11 is a playing card input chute slot 23 and a playing card discharge slot 24.

The offensive plays that may be utilized in the playing of the game of the present invention are coded on playing cards 25 with the perforations 25a on each playing card being arranged to simulate a particular offensive football play. The play which the coding on the card corresponds to can be printed on the card. Offensive runs, passes, punts, etc. may each be coded on a separate card and selected for an offensive play by a partiicipant in the game in accordance with what he thinks would work best. A tab 25b is located on the end of the playing card that is first inserted into slot 23 and may be colored as desired. The tab projects from slot 11:: when the card is fully inserted in the play maker and the projection of the tab is an indication to the participants that the playing card has been fully inserted into the play maker and an offensive play may be run.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the interior of play maker 11 includes a panel 11b through which a shaft 28 projects, shaft 28 being rotatable with knob 22. Located on one side of panel 11b and rotatable with shaft 28 are a plurality of friction rollers 29 beneath which is a platform 95. A spring motor 27 is coupled to shaft 28 and is preferably located on the side of friction rollers 29 furthest away from panel 11b. Also rotatable with shaft 28 is a ratchet wheel 32 the movement of which is controlled by link 31 with link 31 being positioned by toggle switch 21. As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the chute 34 is located adjacent slot 23 to enable the playing cards 25 to be easily advanced to the interior of the play maker.

Four pivotable metallic contact arms 40 through 43 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are located within the play maker and are pivotable about a bar 44 which is fixed relative to the walls of the play maker. Each metallic pivot contact arm includes a wire attached to the end closest to pivot bar 44 and a latch (40b through 43b) located closer to the other end of the pivot arm. Springs 46 through 49 are located beneath each of the pivot arms and bias the pivot arms in an upwards direction so the latches will project through openings 95a on platform 95. Located above the end of the pivot arms adjacent to Where the springs are located is a metallic strip 90 which is normally kept at a positive voltage by batteries 60 (FIG. 6). Located beneath metallic strip 90 is a second metallic strip 91 with the metallic strips flanking the ends of the pivot arms which are adjacent the biasing springs of the pivot arms. Metallic strip 91 has a negative potential applied to it when toggle switch 19 is moved to the action position.

A motor 61 (FIG. 6) having a drive shaft 63 which rotates a pulley 64 is located adjacent goal post. 15 beneath surface 13 and is positioned so that shaft 63 is approximately parallel to yard markers 14. Rotatable with pulley 64 are nylon lines 65 which pass through holes in a guide plate 66 and which are adapted to move a transverse plate 72 longitudinally beneath the length of the playing field on surface 13. A guide rod 68 projects through plate 72 to insure that the plate does not swerve as it is moved beneath the football field. Plate 67 secures rod 68 and includes openings in which nylon lines 65 may pass and are moved through as plate 72 is moved beneath surface 13 upon the rotation of motor 61. In a similar manner, a motor 62 is slideable along rod 77 which is fixed to plate 72 and includes a shaft 69 which rotates a pulley 70. Nylon wires 71 rotate with pulley 70 and move motor 62 transverse to the major axis of surface 13 and along the direction of plate 72 on rod 77 as motor 62 is rotated. It should be noted that motor 62 could be fixed to one end of plate 72 and cylinder :80 could be moved by motor 62 in a fashion analogous to how motor 61 moves plate 72.

The wire on arms 40 and 43 is arranged so that when these arms are in contact with strips and 91, respectively, motor 61 will rotate in one direction and conversely when arms 40 and 43 are in contact with strips 91 and 90 the motor will rotate in another direction. In a similar fashion arms 41 and 42 in conjunction with strips 91 and 90 control the direction of rotation of motor 62. The wires from the contact arms and strips leading to the motors being denoted by the numeral 12.

As can best be seen in FIG. 7, a cylinder 80 which may contain a light to be lit upon switch 20 being depressed is fixed to motor 62 and includes a magnet 82 which is located in a cylindrical lip 81 attached to the uppermost portion of cylinder 80. Located in platform 84 of offensive player piece 17 is a magnet 88' which by attraction with magnet 82 insures that the offensive player 17 will move as either motor 61 or 62 moves or both move together. A buzzer may be utilized as described in the aboveidentified patent to be sounded when an offensive play has been completed.

OPERATION When it is desired to commence an offensive play the participant in the game who is on defense will arrange defensive player pieces 18 in positions that he feels would be most advantageous for the particular circumstances involved. The number of defensive players to be used can be selected by the participants and six are shown on the drawings for illustrative purposes only. A clock may be utilized to time the quarters and a mock ten yard marker to measure first downs. Depending on the score, the period, etc., the offensive player will select a player card 25 having coded thereon an offensive play which is best suited for the game situation. The perforated player card is then inserted through slot 23 and chute 34. As the card is fed into the play maker on platform spring motor 27 is wound since the participant in the game on offensive at that time cranks knob 22 which rotates friction rollers 29 to insure that the player card is fully inserted into the slot and the tab thereon projects through slot 11a. When the card is fully inserted into the play maker the player can release knob 22 and place toggle switch 21 in the huddle position locking the card in the play maker by stopping rotation of shaft 28 and rollers 29. This occurs since linkage 31 is moved to stop rotation of ratchet wheel 3-2 and thus the rotation of shaft 28 and friction rollers 29 when toggle switch 21 is moved to the huddle position.

As a result of the playing card being fully inserted into the play maker all of the metal pivot arms are forced into a downward position and overcome the bias of the respective springs and contact negative metallic strip 91. This occurs since the perforations in the card are not located in the portion of the card over the latches when the card is fullyinserted in the play maker but are located to the right of the latches as viewed in the figures. Toggle switch 19 is thrown in the action position so there will be a positive potential applied to metallic strip 90 from batteries 60. When it is desired to commence the play, toggle switch 21 is thrown into the hike position whereby link 31 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 allowing ratchet wheel 32, shaft 28 and frictional rollers 29 to freely rotate under the influence of spring motor 27'. As a result of this rotation, card 25 is moved on platform 95 to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 towards slot 24. When a perforation in card 25 passes over a latch of the metallic arms which project through the opening in platform 95 the latch will pass through the card to allow the metallic arm to move upwards under the influence of the biasing spring to contact strip 90. Conversely, if there is no perforation in the card as the card is moving to the left under the influence of spring motor 27 the card will keep the metallic arms, via the latches thereon, in contact with strip 91 (FIG. 5). Depending upon which metallic arm is contacting the different metallic strips 90 and 91, motors 6 1 and 62 will be actuated moving motor 62, cylinder 80 and the offensive player 17 down the field. The particular path that will be followed will be determined by the perforations on the card which in turn determine the direction of rotation of each of the motors and hence the movement of the offensive player. Movement of the offensive player will continue until it abuts one of the defensive players 18 and is stopped or at which time a buzzer may be sounded or the light beneath offensive player 17 may go off to indicate that the offensive play is terminated. The sequence may then be repeated and the game continued.

Punts, punt returns, passes, kick-offs, field goals and points after touchdown are all accomplished in the same manner as a normal running play. The selection of the cards labeled PUNT, KICK-OFF, etc. are provided for the offensive player, the number of plays depending upon the number of different playing cards provided. All play is done by selecting various cards, dependent upon the desired action required. Of course spinners could be substituted for the above action if desired.

It is to be noted that the ends of metallic arms 40 through 43 (FIG. 1) project through an'opening 110 in the play maker so that they may be selectively brought in contact with metallic strips 90 and '91 to move the offensive player along surface 13 without the influence of the playing card. Thus, the offensive player can be controlled by means other than the perforated playing card, such as by manually depressing the metallic arms 40-43 with ones fingers.

Although the above description is directed to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. An automated football game wherein the participants can select offensive plays that are coded upon perforated playing cards for the playing of the game comprising:

(a) a game member, said game member having a section with a first and second side with said first side arranged to simulate a football field;

(b) a piece that simulates an offensive football player located on said first side;

(c) moving means located adjacent said second side for automatically moving said piece in any direction along said first side of said section;

(d) means for sensing the perforations in a perforated playing card;

(e) playing card input and discharge means for directing a playing card to a position from where the perforations thereon can ultimately be sensed and for discharging a sensed playing card;

(f) switching and associated control means for moving a playing card past said sensing means to enable said sensing means to sense perforations in the playing card, said switching and associated control means including energy storing means for storing energy as a playing card is inserted into the game through the input means and a switch, said switch for releasing the energy in the energy storing means to move the inserted card past the sensing means to be sensed and discharged through the discharge means; and

(g) means for directing said moving means and therefore said piece along preselected paths of travel corresponding to the offensive play coded on the playing card upon said sensing means, sensing the perforations in the playing card.

2. A game according to claim 1, further defined by said energy storing means being rotatable, a shaft, rollers rotatable with said shaft for moving the playing card past the sensing means, said shaft rotatable with said energy storing means, a braking mechanism rotatable with said shaft, said switch controlling the rotation of said braking mechanism and hence said shaft.

3. An automated football game wherein the participants can select offensive plays that are coded upon perforated cards for the playing of the game comprising:

(a) a game member, said game member having a section with a first and second side with said first side arranged to simulate a football field;

(b) a piece that simulates an offensive football player located on said first side;

(c) moving means located adjacent said second side for automatically moving said piece in any direction along said first side section;

(d) means for sensing the perforations in a perforated playing card, said sensing means including a plurality of conducting sensing elements with each of said sensing elements including a card perforation sensing portion, a first metallic bar, a second metallic bar, said first and second metallic bars positioned so as to flank portions of said conducting sensing elements, each of said sensing elements being independently movable to engage each of said bars, biasing means for biasing said sensing elements in contact with said first metallic bar and for biasing the sensing portion of the sensing element against the playing card, the sensing portion acting to keep the sensing element in contact with the second bar against the bias of the biasing means, when in contact with the playing card, and allowing said biasing means to bias said sensing elements into contact with said first bar when not in contact with any portion of the card, with contact between the different sensing elements and the different metal bars controlled by the perforations in the playing card, the contact between the different sensing elements and different metallic bars controlling the movement of said moving means;

(e) switching and associated control means for moving a playing card past said sensing means to enable said sensing means to sense perforations in the playing card; and

(f) means for directing said moving means and therefore said piece along preselected paths of travel corresponding to the offensive play coded on the playing card upon said sensing means sensing the perforations in the playing card.

4. A game according to claim 3, wherein said moving means include first and second motors located adjacent the second side of said section, a member fixed for linear movement relative to the simulated football field, said member movable upon said first motor rotating, said second motor movable along said member upon said second motor rotating, and said offensive piece movable with said second motor.

5. A game according to claim 4, wherein said first motor is fixed relative to said section.

7 8 6. A game according to claim 5, further comprising 3,219,769 11/1965 Lutzen 200-46 flexible transmission lines, said flexible transmission lines 3,198,897 8/ 1965 Scofield, Sr. et a1 ZOO-46 rotatable with said first motor, said member being mov- 2,120,378 6/1938 Tauschek 200-46 X able by rotation of said transmission lines. 3,338,576 8/1967 Andriulis 273-85 F References Cited 5 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS P. E. S HAPIRO, Assistant Examiner 3,559,992 2/1971 Kramer 273-94 R 3,091,459 5/1963 Lindman 273-94 R X 2,961,238 11/1960 Waldrop 273--94 R 209-46 

